Right you Osberton lot......

[meardsall_millie]

A quick update for you.

I've been up there this afternoon. The Novice SJ is currently set at 85cm for the Restricted class but I'm told by the organiser it will be going up to 95cm. Its quite straightforward though, so should be fine.

The Novice XC is quite straightforward and not big. There are lots of simple palisade-type fences, a small trakehner, and a bank to a skinnyish log. The water is a splash through, to a small house out. There's a cluster of 3 fences quite close together towards the end which will require a bit of steering accuracy but other than that there's nothing to be overly concerned about.

The Open looks to be much more chunky although I didn't see it all as it takes a different route to the Novice. I didn't see anything I wouldn't be happy to jump on a horse with a bit of experience (although happy to be corrected by anyone who walked it all!

)

The ground varies from boggy to frozen in places but is generally very good. Just slightly concerned about the heavy frost that's been forecast overnight - will it be able to start on time??

Hope all those going have a good day tomorrow.

 

[algeredge]

Thanks for the update...and thank God its not too bad, starting to get the first event of the season jitters! So does that mean that all of the Novice sections will jump 95cm or just the EMDG restricted members?? Did it take you long to walk the xc? I'm aiming at giving myself an hour. Thanks and good luck!

 

[meardsall_millie]

All of the Novice sections will jump 95cm except for the EMDG Restricted section which will jump 85cm.


An hour will be plenty of time to walk the XC.

 

[Gamebird]

Ooooh, thanks for that

Obviously you do know that we've never jumped a 95cm course (BN is the biggest so far), or been anywhere near a trakhener or a water jump?

We did go for a paddle in the river this morning in lieu of XC schooling through water though if that counts? Hope the frost isn't too bad!

I think you might have forgotten to mention how your dressage test went and whether Mme. Popsocks will be strutting her stuff tomorrow?

 

[meardsall_millie]

Damn you GB for being so on the ball.

We got 43

Although she did stay in the arena and didn't do anything too embarassing. She just needs more outings and a more consistent contact and I think we'll have cracked it!

Yes - she'll be making an appearance tomorrow.

 

[JustInterested]

Well I thought she was VERY well behaved and certainly did not disgrace herself or you. You didn't need that neckstrap once either!

I'm sure I will see you tomorrow but if not have fun and hope all goes well

 

[Baydale]

Cheers bird, can you text me if it's delayed please and I'll go back to bed for a while.

And I'm sure little Miss Popsicle is saving her best performances for BE later in the year - there's nothing worse than peaking too early...oh, yes there is...not peaking at all (my speciality).

 

[Gamebird]

[ QUOTE ]
Damn you GB for being so on the ball.

We got 43

Although she did stay in the arena and didn't do anything too embarassing. She just needs more outings and a more consistent contact and I think we'll have cracked it!

Yes - she'll be making an appearance tomorrow.

[/ QUOTE ]

Fabulous! I'd really like to see her tomorrow, though I suspect you'll be done and dusted (hmmm, sounds like a good name for an eventer

) before I even do my dressage.

I'm not sure whether you still have my mobile, but I'll PM you it just in case as my worst nightmare would be arriving with reluctant groom in tow to find out that it's a non-goer

Good luck!

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

Thanks M_M you have beaten me to it! I've also been up there this afternoon, so may have passed you!!

Ditto ground course etc, i am going to attempt to put some pics up for you as have photographed the course......but please bear with me!!

Good luck all and i shall try and hunt you out tomorro! If i don't, look out for a big grey irish horse, a disco and equitrek, puppy and black lab!

Fingers crossed Re: frost as i thought ground was really pretty good considering and dressage arena's rode very well!

I'm up early.....well ment to be!

My horse was VERY fresh for his stressage, normally trot is his best pace, today it was awlful, choppy, he justed wanted to canter, which is usually terrible...but today o.k! So we leveled out 45.5 pen, which tbh i am delighted with as its not our strong point (last year we got 56.5 pens.....so i am happy!)

OK stop rabbiting and pics!!!

Make you all have fun tomorro x

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk30/kwatkinson/CIMG4197.jpg[/IMG]

 

[Gamebird]

Oooooh, I think I might actually love you SW!

And it looks like you can go between the water flags without actually getting your feet wet!

I hope you didn't have your dogs off the lead...

We let ours off once for the Osberton BE event (very well behaved, always walk to heel when not on a lead - well trained gundogs!

) and someone came racing up in a pickup saying 'get your dogs on a lead. The gamekeeper will do his nut' in the most plummy upper-class English accent you can imagine. Husband collapsed in hysterics at a) the accent and b) the fact that we'd been walking for nearly an hour and not seen one pheasant. Husband used to be a gamekeeper and knows his stuff!

Well done on your dressage. I'll have a black Ford Kuga, navy trailer and a chubby black lab, very scruffy terrier and reluctant groom!

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

no probs at all....!!

Yes i think you can....will save breaking the ice!!!

It was frozen over at 4pm when i walked it!

Oh yes, they were on one of those really long invisable leads.............. we did wait till we were well out the way in the woods, as we've also been told off in the past!!!

Thank you relieved its over, stressage is not our strong point! Just hope horse is in a good mood tomorrow and listening, rather than a stupid spooky nappy baby, he once was! I hope he has remembered he's grown up now!

Fab, we'll try find you to say hi (& raid your sloe gin!) and good luck, hope Fugely goes well and is a brave boy

 

[Charlotte125]

I hope its not cancelled getting up early so dnt want to get there and it is cancelled! btw does anyone know the postcode of the place?? need to know how to get there! What did the open course look liek when you were walking it? not too big and scary i hope!xx

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

Charlotte125, Adrian is checking the ground at 05.30 apparently, he said keep an eye on the website as any problems will be posted on there.

The open is a fair course, but there are a couple of alternatives for some fences that ask bigger questions. I didn't walk it as took a different course i'm afraid.

As for postcode S81 0 something, its straight off the A1, from the south its a turning just after the Ranby Turning, which leads straight into the estate, its all sign posted with "pikeur" type horse logo signs, not sure from the North........

 

[Gamebird]

If you're coming down the A1 you turn off at the first Retford turning, then go under the A1 and back up the northbound side of the A1 for a mile or so. It's a tiny wee turn off but usually well signposted. It's a couple of miles through the estate until you get to the event.

In previous years the XC has been a mix of smaller fences and some of the BE Int ones, but very straightforward. Have heard tell that there may be a 1/2* fence or two in it.... Definitely not as technical as BE though.

 

[Charlotte125]

thank you both for the directions!!
Ok well my horse (a big dark bay shire x TB!) should be fine round XC as long as its not over technical for his first run this season, just fitness might be an issue so im not going to be racing around!
I will definately check the internet in the morning, fingers crossed though, quite excited!x

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

I think i saw the 1*/2* fence, a big bullfinch with big ditch in front, but there is an alternative of a palisaide. I spoke to Mark (course builder) as he was building round there still and he said it rode really well (more rider frightner! )

Have fun